Why does the coach tell me to be serious, but laugh when he misses his own shots?

Me, laser-focused at the free-throw line: “breathe, focus, visualize…” while my teammates are cheering like it’s a circus. I shoot… miss. Coach looks at me like I just lost the NBA Finals.

Two minutes later, same coach grabs the ball, shows me “how it’s done”… and launches the most glorious airball ever. Reaction? Laughter, jokes, “oh, I’m rusty.” Really?

In his head, there are two rules: you’re the student, he’s the master. When you miss, it’s a lesson in discipline. When he misses, it’s a lesson in humor. That’s how sports hierarchies work: your mistakes prove you need more work, his mistakes prove we’re all human.

Maybe the truth is simple: if the coach were as hard on himself as he is on you, he’d still be a player, not a coach.

How do you react when your coach misses? Do you tease him—or keep quiet so you don’t end up running extra laps? 😏